THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST Hebrews 4:15 I. Introduction. A. Many sermons on the divinity of Christ. B. Extremely important: If he IS NOT the Son of God- we have no hope beyond this life. C. But there is the human side of Christ. D. Exactly what is involved in Christ being human? Was he like us? Some find it difficult to understand he had the same type of hopes, ambitions, and experiences of all humans. E. Had the same obligations imposed on humans. 1. Had to pay his taxes: Mt. 17:24-27. 2. Taught civil obedience: Mt. 22:21. 3. Physical work: carpenter. Mark 6:3 II. Body. A. Christ is human because he was born of a woman. 1. He experienced the physical to its fullest. 2. Had a family: with all its relationships. a. His brothers & sisters: Mark 6:3. b. Would tell John: John 19:27. B. Jesus had the fleshly desires of other men. 1. Subject to temptations: Hebrews 4:15. 2. Needed food, shelter, and raiment. 3. Experienced hunger: Mt. 21:18. C. Christ experienced and understood human emotions. 1. Anger: Mark 3:5. 2. Disgust? Mark 11:15. 3. Love: John 11:5. 4. Knew pity, kindness, etc. 5. He needed such from others. D. Christ knew the joys of being a human. 1. Pleasure in being with other humans.(His apostles). 2. The greatness of friendship.(Martha, Mary, Lazarus). 3. The relief of social occasions. a. At Mary & Marthas: Luke 10:38f. b. At a wedding feast: John 2:1-2. c. Went to feasts of Hebrews. 4. Used illustrations that could be "amusing." a. "Go tell that fox..." Luke 13:32. b. Beam and mote. E. Jesus knew the sorrows of a human. 1. A "man of sorrows": Isa. 53:3. 2. Knew grief at Lazarus' death: John 11:35. 3. His words were twisted by his enemies.(King) 4. Apparently rejected by family.("All" forsook) 5. Rejected by his friends. a. Served "by night"(secretly?) b. Some even denied knowing him: Lk. 22:54f c. In fact: Luke 14:50. 6. False charges were made against him. 7. He was mocked and ridiculed. 8. Finally--he suffered all the pain of a human in his death: even asking-Matt. 26:39. III. Conclusion. A. After Jesus' experiences on earth, rejection and crucifixion by men: He died for every one of them!jy